Reports indicated by the Pew Hispanic Center show that the Hispanic immigrants are twice as likely to lack health care as the black Americans and three times as likely compared to the whites non-Hispanic (Pew Hispanic Center). Illegal immigrants are even worse since they are probably subjected to accepting lower paid jobs that are not providing health care and since their financial situation does not allow them to have a health insurance. Surprisingly, even those who are born in the U.S. (from Hispanic origin) and also have a health care insurance are declaring that they are not using a particular health care provider because they seldom need medical assistance.
Recent report show that the rate of unemployment is almost twice as high among the Hispanic immigrants compared to the rest of the population unemployment rate. On the other hand, it is also more visible, compared to the immigrants coming from other parts of the world since the Hispanics are representing the majority of immigrants in this country. As previously shown, by the year 2005, 11 to 12 million unauthorized Hispanic immigrants lived in the United States. One has to add that there are statistics showing that almost 74% of the total first generation Hispanic population living in this country does not speak English (Preston, 2007). This aspect adds to the above mentioned problems making the lives of those who flew over the U.S. Mexican border in order to find a better life. Nevertheless, the number of people trying to enter the U.S. over this border, using illegal means is steadily increasing. The language barriers are considered by those interviewed by the Pew Hispanic Center as the most important source for discrimination, overcoming the negative effects ethnicity and social status (idem). The Hispanic immigrants appear to be aware of the importance of speaking the English language has in their development as aspiring U.S. citizens.
The political arena in the U.S. has plaid the illegal immigrants' issues card...
If those measures president Obama promised to take in trying to improve overall life conditions for the illegal immigrants and changing their status into legal emigrants are going to be taken and how soon, it is still a matter to be debated over. The elected president, Barack Obama will have to face the present economic situation in the U.S. with a firm hand, aware that the majority who voted for him has high expectations and its complete trust. Among those who voted for the democrats are the Hispanics.
Many Hispanic men have lost their jobs, during the last year, especially in the construction field, but the Hispanic women facing the same situation them (Pew Hispanic Center). On the other hand, the general situation of the immigrants working in fields like construction is considered worse than last year. The Hispanic population is suffering the consequences of an economy in recession along with anybody else living and working in this country. The fact that they outnumber all the other immigrants is making thir problematic worse.
The complex situation of the illegal Latino immigrants risking their lives to come to the U.S. through the U.S. - Mexico border is asking for complex and thought through measures. The Hispanic population in the U.S. who is working in the low-skilled labor is facing problems like bad working conditions, underpayment and discrimination because of the lack of education and the precarious status people living under such conditions face. Education is a key factor and the future programs will have to focus more in this side on their problems. Health is another key factor that has to come up in further discussions regarding the improvement of the living standards for those Hispanics who are living and working here. The economy is officially in recession, but the demand for cheap working force has not decreased.
